FREMANTLE could be back in premiership contention as quickly as next year, according to Dockers midfielder Danyle Pearce.
The Dockers have started this season 0-7 after winning the minor premiership last year.
Coach Ross Lyon conceded that winning and playing finals was no longer a priority this year following the 18-point loss to Greater Western Sydney last Saturday.
Pearce signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday to remain with the club until the end of 2018.
He was asked whether he thought the club would be back in contention during the next two seasons and he was unequivocal in his response.
"Yep," Pearce said.
"I just have a lot of faith in the direction that we're heading in and the direction that the club is going and the young blokes coming up.
"We still have (Nat) Fyfe and Spide (Aaron Sandilands) staying around for another year, Fyfey is here for a while, and we've got a strong midfield group.
"So I've got no doubt in my mind that we're heading in the right direction."
Pearce said the Dockers' climb from the bottom of the ladder would come so long as they continue to improve.
"I'm hoping that we keep improving on where we left off on the weekend and we definitely weren't happy with the result as we haven't been all year," Pearce said.
"But we're tracking in the right direction from the start of the year and we're just going to keep on improving and we're focussing on this week."
The Dockers travel to Launceston to take on Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon.
Even when the Dockers were in premiership contention over the last four seasons they have trounced by the Hawks at Aurora Stadium. They have lost their last three matches there by an average margin of 56 points.
Pearce said the Dockers must put together a four-quarter effort to try and stay with the Hawks this week.
"We've just got to make sure we do everything right," Pearce said.
"They're a team that play to the last minute and we've got to make sure we match that from start to finish.
"When it matters they stand up, and they play strong, hard contested footy, and that's what we expect of ourselves. We've just got to make sure we deliver on that."
Youngster Ethan Hughes also signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday. He played just his second game last week against Greater Western Sydney and Lyon said he would like to give him another run against the Hawks.
Pearce said Hughes had a bright future.
"I think he's got tremendous upside," Pearce said.
"Until you stand next to him you don't realise just how big he is. He's got a big strong frame on him. The first thing he said after the game (last week) was he noticed the quickness and speed and decision making is such a big jump from playing at Peel (in the WAFL). He's only going to get better."
Rookie key forward Matthew Uebergang also signed a one-year contract extension on Tuesday to remain at the club until the end of 2017.
